☼ Hello Everyone ☼

Scaling Mount Timbak was really such a great experience! Meeting with new folks, be inspired by the locals, sharing insights and laughing over silly jokes with the Conqueror Outdoor Club it was indeed a meaningful and fun experience that I will treasure forever.

Glad our CAGBALETE ISLAND Trip was a success. Thanks to Ms. Tess of Villa Cleofas who answered all of my inquiries and to Josiah Sicad of Lakas Trip. I'm glad that I stumbled upon his blog for this made our journey possible in the cheapest way.

We face a lot of challenges everyday of our lives. Some are easy to handle while some may seem too much for us to take. And as I gradually became fond of climbing lately I realized that Life is.. Life is also a mountain to climb!

I was very sincere in seeking God. But I also saw the reality that my religiosity in church did not carry over to my life at home. I got angry at my nieces and pinched them whenever they touched my things, gave my mom, my ate, a weeks/ or month of silent treatment in rebellion to their strictness, spent hours devouring novels and giving way to my imaginations. I was selfish and self-centered.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Electronic Mail, commonly called e-mail/email celebrates its 29th Birthday on August 30, 2011. Dr. V. A. Shiva Ayyadurai, the Inventor of the World's First E-Mail System said EMAIL has so far defied "experts" who had been writing it off since 2000.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

It's time for the Great Dole Cook-Off!Filipinos love to eat and cook! And there’s no question that food is an integral part of Filipino culture, as proven by different cooking shows on TV and self-help books in mainstream media.

Chef Jeremy Favia

That being said, Dole held the Great Dole Cook-Off, an event that launched the brand’s line of delicious tomatosaucesthrough an exciting cook-off among guests on August 26 at the Magsaysay Institute For Hospitality and Culinary Arts (MIHCA) .

The Cook-Off were divided into two segments that highlighted the use of Dole Tomato Sauce in the recipes. The first segment is a cooking demonstration from Charming Chef Jeremy Favia, one of the rising young chefs in television today and the second a cook-off between bloggers with Chef Jeremy and a Dole representative as judges.

“Dole advocates healthy living through our products and activities. For this event, we like to highlight that being healthy should be part of our love for food, and this event highlights that it is easy to be healthy—Dole Tomato Sauce makes sure of that.”

Dole is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables and packaged foods. For years, Dole has committed itself to furthering health and nutrition as is evident in their wide array of quality products such as canned pineapple solids, canned mixed fruits, canned beverages and packaged fruit snacks.

New Dole Tomato SauceSavor the world-class goodness of sun-ripened tomatoes in DOLE Tomato Sauce. Naturally rich in lycopene, thick, flavorful sauce is generously blended with the finest herbs and spices to make everyday dishes truly extraordinary.

Available in 115g, 200g, 250g, and 1 kg. pouches.

Cooked tomatoes, such as those found in DOLE Tomato Sauce has up to five times more of the antioxidant Lycopene than fresh tomatoes.

DOLE Tomato Sauce is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and is a good source of Vitamin K. while Lycopene protects the cells of your body from harmful free radicals, Vitamins A, C and K promotes good eyesight, builds resistance to infection and healthy blood functions.

The Great Dole Cook-Off was a smashing success. I really enjoyed the event! I've learned new recipes and meet the ever charming Chef! It's really a night of fun and healthy cooking!

Friday, August 26, 2011

What does it take to obey something that seems so unthinkable, and so unacceptable?

In full hands

Several times I have needed to give up something good for something better. Like learning to say "NO" with friends to do productive work at home. Getting up earlier in the morning so I could still have time for breakfast and had bonding with mom, and lastly, even ending up a relationship to meet a better one.. :)

I believe that for each one of us, God has a unique way of catching our attention. On my end, it was when I had a painful break up with my ex-boyfriend. Where I need to end that long term relationship completely. And in the middle of that heartbreaking experience, God opened my eyes to Isaiah 26:3 that "In order for me to have peace, all I need to do is to focus my mind on God. When I focus my mind on the Lord, then along with that focus comes trust in Him and in His power." I also realized that He allowed me a painful trial to give me a better and healthier perspective of Him. He made me feel brokenness that I may witness His overflowing grace. :)

And so, 3 years ago I gave my wounded heart back to Him, still trusting and relying on His wisdom. Then He led me to a perfect peace in the midst of my personal storm and assured me of His wisdom for prayers yet too be answered. I felt His embrace in the midst of my disappointment. He filled my mind with hope and my heart with joy. Then I began to recognize God’s blessings around me, and, by faith, appreciated the work He was doing in my life. Best of all, I realized that nothing could surpass the blessing of being in the palm of God’s hand – the only place one can find perfect peace.

It was then that I understood what overwhelming grief and sorrow felt like. In the end, there was no one I could expect to stay with me. Yet, I was reminded that Someone was always with me. God, my Father, was with me. :) I remember crying out to Him. And then in Psalm 34:18, the Lord gave His wonderful reassurance:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

That night, barriers between us melted and I felt His loving presence. That night, despite all my past inconsistencies. He gave His comfort and assurance. And I fell asleep in the loving arms of my heavenly Father. And I am m believing that on His time I will received that love story I will be proud of. A love story that would cause others to grow in faith, hope and love in Him. A love story I did not manipulate but God alone created. :)

Sunday, August 21, 2011

From Left to Right: Richard, Lance, Weng, Me, Mr. Borgy, Rhon and Marco

BenMore Four Casks Scotch Whisky is a new alcoholic drink with a much affordable price. Believe me, when I first saw the packaging of BenMore I thought the price would range from Php500-600. To my surprise, it was only half the price!

I happen to know the event through my sister. At first I was a bit hesitant to go since I haven't updated my blog for a loOng time but glad I make it! :D Guess what?! Mr. Borgy Manotoc was there! (he is actually mah crush for a long time now, shhh...) And I'm so kilig! Like this oh: /blush lolz.

Seriously, Mr. Borgy Manotoc is the First Ambassador of BenMore. He is so cute!!!!, he is funny, he is so approachable and Hot! Awww, did I already mentioned he is Cute?! Anyway, I really enjoyed the night together with fellow bloggers I met, they made me laugh so hard! Yes! Bentang benta joke nila saken. Again, my thanks to Ms. Jane Marie Ann Tio and Ariel Broncano of Global Noble International Corp, (BenMore exclusive distributor) who have been really accommodating to us, food are good and well presented as well.

The product launch was a success. BenMore Four Casks offers an even more deluxe scotch whisky for greater drinking experience with smoother and more complex whisky notes which regular standard whisky can not offer. Normally when we heard “whisky”, it give us connotation that its expensive, but not BenMore. Infact its SRP is ONLY 300php! Benmore’s affordability makes it more competitive with any local beer here in the Philippines. It really can be an alternative alcoholic drink, upgrading usual beer to BenMore Four Casks Scotch Whisky.

Overall, I enjoyed my first blogger event. Looking forward to see you guys again Lance, Rhon, Richard and Marco. Many thanks to my dear sistah & to BenMore : ) Cheers!

Do you pay for a Gift? Absolutely not. Somebody has paid for it so it's Free! A Gift is a form of gratitude, appreciation, it is given as a tribute to an important person. Same with Salvation. Somebody has already paid for it and that's Jesus Christ . Remember the shed-blood of Jesus on the cross? We have all sinned, and the penalty had to be paid in order for God to be "Just" -- Jesus Christ has paid that penalty.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-7)

To be saved by sin is a gift that is free from merit. And it is critical to understand that we cannot save ourselves. Even good things we do, -- our "works" cannot free us from salvation likewise even if you're the most intelligent, or riches person in the world these will not save you, nor I.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The foundation of our faith is Jesus death and Resurrection that's what paid the penalty for our sins. We must realized that we are sinners without excuse (Romans 11:20) and that it is only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we can be saved.

Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.(Romans 11:20)

In Ephesians 2, Apostle Paul emphasied that those who receive this Gift of God do not deserve this blessings. But because our God is King of glory He is full of Grace and Mercy and He love us so much that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, who lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

As a result of God's work in Jesus, we are a new people with a new heart and a new Lord. Better stop trusting in yourself and your own good works & start trusting in Christ alone for Salvation

So is it really not possible to be saved by the good things we do -- our works? So how we are save again? We are saved by the Grace of god, through faith. (Ephesians 2:8)

If God does not save us because of things we do, then why does he save us? God is merciful. Because of his mercy that's why we are saved.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:4-5)

I'm already saved! Why should I do good works then?

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8)

Yes! It is true that God love us just the way we are, BUT God doesn't want us to be the same.

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (Titus 2:11, 12)

The grace of God simply not spared us from the punishment we deserve but the Grace of God also give us the power to say "no" to sin.

Salvation is "free to you and me" in the sense that Jesus bought our release from sin through His blood . Nothing we can do could ever "pay" for sin. It took our sinless Savior to redeem us from the bondage of sin. That is the "free" I am referring to when I refer to salvation as "God's free gift", that is, free for us, because Jesus paid the price.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Here are three points to help us understand this gift of God called grace.

God’s Justiceis when He gives us what we deserve.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. Ephesians 2:3

We all rebelled against God (Romans 3:9-18) and we all deserve eternal punishment in hell. The truth is, the drive to commit sin comes from our sinful nature, which is judged from the start (Ephesians 2:3). This is why any of what we think as good deeds is still unacceptable. And because God is just, sin has its punishment.

God’s Mercy is when He does not give us what we deserve.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4,5)

Because of God’s mercy, being spared from the punishment is now possible. This does not mean that God is violating His character to let us off the hook. It was Jesus who actually took the penalty of our sins. Instead of us dying on the cross and being hell-bound for eternity, Jesus became our substitute. The punishment of sin was accomplished on Jesus.

God’s grace is when He gives us what we do not deserve. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the
incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6,7

In Christ, we are not simply spared from the punishment we deserve but we also receive the blessings that we do not deserve. This grace or blessing comes in different forms. Some of those are, becoming a child of God (1 John 3:1), having the power to say “no” to sin (Titus 3:5), the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), etc.

Monday, August 08, 2011

I want to share with you what happened to me a couple of weeks ago in Pico de Loro. Aside from bruises and scratches I brought home I had this remarkable, dramatic experience that turns out to be unintentionally funny at all! =)

August 6, Sunday, when we decided to descent early as it had rained the whole night and the path going to the summit is already wet and muddy. Going to the beak was quite impossible as it was zero visibility at all. Though a bit disappointing, yet I just convinced myself that going to the falls will compensate everything.

So as we reached the falls, everyone got all excited to dip their tired bodies! We went all around the falls while a friend whom decided not to swim take pictures from afar. I soaked my entire body in the fresh cold water just to loosen up my joints. It feels so rejuvenating! I was enjoying the free massage from the huge amount of water cascading down the falls until I didn't realized I was already at the deep part!

Too late to reach for help because the other officemate of mine who also don't know how to swim is already at my back with all her weight and she's kinda pulling me down. The next thing we know we're both drowning. It has become impossible for me to reach some rocks to cling to since someone is pulling me and so both of us keep on going down.

It was happening so fast, I started to panic but no sound came out. I tried to clear my mind and thought of how I could save myself, but I didn't know how to swim so I feel a bit helpless. The moment that I can't no longer see them and the thought of no one's even dare to help us was totally scary!

Now I know how it feels like kinda be drowned. Ganun pala. As I was sinking I wondered if this was going to be my fate. I was thinking of my family, I even imagine how my wake should be. I felt so scared. I did not want to die that way! So that very moment, I gathered every ounce of courage and tried to calm down. Then, my boss reached out with an oar and I grabbed it and managed to push myself up. Thank God! I've gone into a deep state of self contemplation after, then I went back swimming. Meanwhile, we both started laughing and went to everyone talking about it.

Maybe misadventures but these misadventures make me more confident and stronger for I know what to do the next time it occurs! Awesome experience!

Friday, August 05, 2011

The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation won their first Gold in the 10th International Dragon Boat Racing Championship in Tampa, Florida. The champion team is headed by team captain Usman Ante­rola and composed of a 26-man team mixed of paddlers from the Philippine Army, Navy Air Force and Coast Guards personnel, and reinforced by the best civilian women paddlers. They represented our country against powerhouses Hungary, Australia, Italy and Trinidad and Tobago.